Lianyungang
Jiangsu's Yellow Sea port, with a simplified document list for 'new three' cargo since 2024 and its own guide for energy-storage units on break-bulk ships.
North America · sea freight from Lianyungang
Shipping from Lianyungang to Houston
Lianyungang to Houston
Yellow Sea · Korea Strait · Tsugaru Strait · Eastern Pacific · Panama Canal · Caribbean Sea · Yucatán Channel · Gulf of Mexico
- LianyungangChina origin
- Yellow Sea
- Korea Strait
- Tsugaru Strait
- Eastern Pacific
- Panama Canal
- Caribbean Sea
- Yucatán Channel
- Gulf of Mexico
- HoustonUnited States
This route runs out of Lianyungang, where the MSA simplified 'new three' filings in 2024, then follows the Pacific, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean; at the far end is the port of Houston.
The US side starts with two filings due before loading and ends with a road leg that must carry a live emergency number. Below are 6 route-specific points to plan for, what we do about each, and the documents to have ready before booking.
What we need to start
- Lianyungang export
- Break-bulk ESS guide
- Supply-chain tracing file
- HTS code 8507.60
- ISF filer
Route profile
What sets Lianyungang → Houston apart
Asia – Americas via the Panama Canal
Gatun Lake levels set how much a ship can load through Panama; the Caribbean leg then crosses hurricane waters from June to November.
Where this route gets difficult
Where Lianyungang → Houston shipments get held up: 6 points
They run from the Lianyungang terminal through the voyage to Houston and the United States import file.
- Origin port
Lianyungang's break-bulk guide for ESS
For energy storage shipped on break-bulk vessels, Lianyungang MSA's June 2025 guide classes ESS cabinets as UN3480 and ESS containers as UN3536, recommends 20–50% remaining charge, and requires converters and monitoring switched off, series and parallel circuits disconnected, packages spread evenly with a low centre of gravity, and a safety meeting before the ship arrives.
What Anxin does: For ESS units we confirm the UN number the unit ships under, get the state of charge and isolation steps in writing from the manufacturer, and join the pre-arrival safety meeting with the stowage details.
- Origin port
Fog season at Lianyungang
Between April and July sea fog is a major marine hazard in the Yellow and Bohai Seas, the China Meteorological Administration says. Lianyungang, like Qingdao, can see vessels held at anchor by fog, and moving a box to another vessel means amending its DG filings.
What Anxin does: In fog season we keep slack between stuffing and the DG cut-off and have the filing data ready to amend.
- Sea corridor
Gatun Lake sets the Neopanamax draft
How deep ships can load through Panama's new locks depends on Gatun Lake. In September 2026 the Canal Authority's advisory A-33-2026 postponed a cut in the Neopanamax draft from 14.63 m to 14.48 m that had been due on 1 October, citing lake levels; a lower limit reduces what a ship bound for Houston can carry.
What Anxin does: We check the canal advisory in force when we quote for Houston and ask carriers to confirm that the booked vessel's routing and any canal surcharge will not change before sailing.
- Import country
AMS: the manifest CBP sees before the ship leaves Lianyungang
Under 19 CFR 4.7 the carrier's cargo declaration must be in CBP's Automated Manifest System 24 hours before loading abroad. Without it, or with inaccurate data, the permit to unlade the container at Houston can be delayed or refused.
What Anxin does: We give the carrier or NVOCC the final cargo description, HS code, UN number and package count before the documentation cut-off in Lianyungang, so the AMS filing and the DG manifest say the same thing.
- Import country
Port Houston will not take DG papers at the gate
Bayport and Barbours Cut use a paperless hazardous pre-advise system. The shipping line submits the DG documents, the trucker's ExpressPass carries a Haz_No_Ingate hold until the hazardous team approves the unit, and papers handed over at the gate are refused.
What Anxin does: We make sure the carrier has the final DG documents for Houston well before arrival and tell the trucker to check that the hold is released in Lynx before sending a driver.
- Import country
Button and coin cells: Reese's Law
Consumer products containing button or coin cells manufactured or imported after 19 March 2024 must meet the UL 4200A-2023 performance and warning-label rules adopted as 16 CFR part 1263, and battery packaging labels have been mandatory since 21 September 2024. The importer also needs a certificate citing the rule.
What Anxin does: When a shipment for Houston includes products with button or coin cells, we ask for the certificate and photos of the battery compartment warnings before booking.
Documents & compliance
What to have ready: Lianyungang to Houston
Test reports, safety data sheets and import certificates come from the shipper, factory and importer, not from Anxin; our part is to review them before booking.
Before loading in Lianyungang
- For ESS: UN3480 or UN3536 confirmed, state of charge and circuit isolation stated in writing
- Transport-condition classification report where applicable
- Load plan showing even weight distribution (no more than 60% of the cargo weight in either half of the container length)
- 'Made in China' marking on articles or containers checked on photos
- Safety data sheet and dangerous goods safe-carriage declaration for the MSA cargo report
For the carrier and the voyage
- Canal routing and any canal-related surcharge confirmed for the booked vessel
- Lithium battery mark (SP188 cargo) or class 9 labels and placards
- Condition statement: new, used, damaged/defective (SP376) or for recycling (SP377)
For import into United States
- ISF filer named; stuffing location and consolidator sent right after packing
- HTSUS classification from the broker (8507.60.0010 vs .0020 decides the Section 301 line)
Before you book
Send the file once, complete
Most delays on this route start with a document that exists but does not match: a UN number, a model name or a package count that differs between the Lianyungang filings, the carrier booking and the United States import file. We check the three against each other before the booking is confirmed.
Carriers we book with
Our booking panel; availability on this lane and acceptance of the declared UN numbers are confirmed for each booking. It does not mean that a listed carrier runs a direct service on this route. Carrier choice depends on the trade lane, cargo classification and each carrier's dangerous-goods acceptance at booking. The final carrier is confirmed on the booking.
Risk & mitigation
Risks on this route and who deals with them
| Risk | Where | Mitigation | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESS unit not isolated or poorly distributed in a break-bulk hold | Lianyungang, break-bulk loading | Manufacturer's written isolation steps; safety meeting | Manufacturer / ship, coordinated by Anxin |
| Draft cut reduces capacity or adds surcharges | Panama Canal | Advisory checked at quotation; carrier confirmation | Carrier, checked by Anxin |
| Permit to unlade delayed for a late or inaccurate AMS manifest | Port of discharge | Final cargo data given to the carrier before the cut-off | Carrier / NVOCC, with data from Anxin |
Questions
Questions about shipping from Lianyungang to Houston
Yes. Under 49 CFR 171.25(b)(3), SP188 packages of UN3480 or UN3090 need the 'FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD PASSENGER AIRCRAFT' marking or a Cargo Aircraft Only label, and so do packages of batteries packed with or contained in equipment above 5 kg net. We check for it on carton photos before stuffing.
1 June to 30 November, peaking around 10 September, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Its June 2025 break-bulk ESS guide recommends 20–50% remaining charge, with converters and monitoring off and circuits disconnected.
References
Where these points come from
- 19 CFR 134.11: Country of origin marking required (Legal Information Institute (e-CFR text))
- 19 CFR 149.2 – Importer security filing: requirement and time of transmission (eCFR / CBP)
- 19 CFR 4.7: inward foreign manifest; advance filing of cargo declaration (24 hours before lading) (Legal Information Institute (e-CFR text))
- Section 301 Modifications Determination (Federal Register notice, Sept 2024) (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative)
- 49 CFR 171.25 – Additional requirements for the use of the IMDG Code (eCFR / PHMSA)
- Advisory to Shipping A-33-2026: Postponement of maximum authorized draft adjustment in the Neopanamax locks (Panama Canal Authority)
- Tropical Cyclone Climatology (NOAA National Hurricane Center)
- Sea fog in the Yellow and Bohai Seas (fog season mainly April–July) (China Meteorological Administration (from Guangming Daily))
Next step
From enquiry to import
- 1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
- 2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
- 3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
- 4HandoverAt Lianyungang
- 5ImportClearance at Houston
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After you send it
We check carrier acceptance for Lianyungang → Houston before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.
All destinations from Lianyungang · United States ports
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